Today my heart is still a little heavy. I'll distract myself with friends and people who believe in embracing differences but I won't forget what this means. While I don't want to get into politics too much on here—it isn't the place—I can't help but take a second to open up a bit for something I feel so strongly towards. I don't believe in shying away from it and hiding it as if it were wrong to speak out about how we feel or what we believe. As we continue to process the changes occurring and ahead, please remember your power as an individual. It is so important to stay kind today and spread love to others. This may be an easy day for some but there's no doubt in my mind that it is an extremely painful day for others. Don't forget that.

Throughout the past few months, I had hoped for a sign that what is ahead might not be so bad but instead, I got reassured that we have a lot of work to continue to do to better our country and world. It is crucial, just as I said back in November, that we take our own actions to educate ourselves and stand behind what we believe—that we transform our sadness, our anger, our anxieties into something that pushes positive change in the world. Keep on top of that fire you feel and don't let that slip away.

Above all and through everything, life should be about kindness. When we are able to open our hearts to have empathy and compassion towards others, we allow ourselves to connect—to understand. We should embrace differences, learn from each other, share love, and exchange stories. I wholeheartedly believe that communities should foster and thrive within that. So today, I will continue to fight for what I believe in, fight alongside those who need me, and remember that love trumps hate. Always.